West Berkshire

West Berkshire's population grew between the last two censuses. Data from the census also show there were changes in religion, ethnicity and housing tenure.

The population passed 150,000

In the decade leading up to the most recent census, the population of West Berkshire increased by 6.5%, from just over 144,000 to 154,000.

The addition of just over 9,300 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, West Berkshire was home to, on average, 1.6 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was lower than the average across the South East

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the South East, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older West Berkshire

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of West Berkshire increased by three years, from 37 to 40 years.

This growing rural area had a slightly higher average age than the South East and became slightly older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of almost 5,000 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by about 3,000.

About 11% of people in West Berkshire are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and West Berkshire by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in West Berkshire

The 2011 Census asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, 29% said they had no religion. An increase from 17% in 2001 makes this the fastest-growing religious group in West Berkshire.

The percentage increased at a similar rate to the average across the South East (from 17% to 28%), but at a faster rate than the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in West Berkshire that described themselves as Christian decreased from about 110,000 in 2001 to about 98,000 in 2011 (from 76% to 64%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation increased from just under 10,000 to just over 11,000 (from 6.9% to 7.2%).

Just over 1,200 people (0.4%) said they were Muslim, up from about 570 in 2001 (0.8%).

The population without a religion in West Berkshire increased by 11 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and West Berkshire by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in West Berkshire

The percentage of West Berkshire residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 6.5% to 6.7% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.6%) reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities, compared with 1.9% in 2001. The percentage of West Berkshire residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 92% to 91%.

The proportion of people who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 6.8% in 2001 to 6.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 6.8% to 6.5%.

The proportion of people who are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents that reported being slightly limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Ethnicity in West Berkshire

In 2011, 95% of the local population said they were from the White ethnic groups. An increase from 97% in 2001 makes this the fastest-growing ethnic group in West Berkshire.

The percentage decreased by less than the average across the South East (from 95% to 91%) and the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in West Berkshire from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from just under 1,500 in 2001 to about 3,800 in 2011 (from 1.0% to 2.5%). The number of residents from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from about 1,300 to about 2,400 (from 0.9% to 1.6%).

Just under 1,400 people (0.5%) said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, up from about 690 in 2001 (0.9%).

The population from the White ethnic groups in West Berkshire decreased by 2.5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and West Berkshire by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in West Berkshire, but at a slower rate than in Reading (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with West Berkshire).

In West Berkshire, the proportion of private renting increased from 8.7% in 2001 to 14% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in nearby Reading increased from 15% to 26%.

Across the South East, the share of privately rented homes increased from 10% to 16%.

The rate of social housing in West Berkshire remained close to 14%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 74% to 70%.

Private renting in West Berkshire increased by 5 percentage points

Percentage of households in West Berkshire, the South East and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in West Berkshire working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 15% to 12% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.7%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 1.8% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 14% in 2001 to 11% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13% to 10%.

Long hour working in West Berkshire decreased by 3.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in West Berkshire, the South East and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of West Berkshire residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 5.5% to 3.2% between the last two censuses.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 9 in 10 (86%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 75% in 2001. The percentage of West Berkshire residents that described their health as fair decreased from 20% to 11%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 7.2% in 2001 to 4.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in West Berkshire decreased by 2.3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in West Berkshire, the South East and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

More single people in West Berkshire

The percentage of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased in West Berkshire, but at a slower rate than across the South East.

In West Berkshire, the proportion of single people increased from 27% in 2001 to 29% in 2011. During the same period, the regional proportion increased from 29% to 32%.

Across the South East, the share of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased from 29% to 32%.

The proportion of married people in West Berkshire fell from 56% to 54%, while the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner increased from 10.0% to 11%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was lower than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were single across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in rate of unemployment

The percentage of West Berkshire residents that were unemployed increased from 1.7% to 2.9% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just under 6 in 10 (59%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 61% in 2001. The percentage of West Berkshire residents that were self-employed increased from 10% to 11%.

The proportion of unemployed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 2.3% in 2001 to 3.5% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.4% to 4.4%.

The rate of unemployment in West Berkshire increased by 1.3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in West Berkshire, the South East and England that said they were unemployed, March 2001 and March 2011

Changing household dynamics

The percentage of households in West Berkshire, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 9.4% to 10% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just over one in four (26%) households had only one person, compared with 25% in 2001. The percentage of households in West Berkshire which comprised a married couple (with or without children) decreased from 45% to 42%.

The proportion of households with an unmarried couple increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 8.7% in 2001 to 9.9% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 8.3% to 9.9%.

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple was higher than across the South East

Percentage of households that had an unmarried couple across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

The percentage of West Berkshire residents that provided at least 50 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.3% to 1.6% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

The percentage who reported providing between 20 and 49 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 0.7%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 1.7% in 2001 to 2.0% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.1% to 2.4%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in West Berkshire remained close to 1.6%

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and West Berkshire by care, March 2001 and March 2011

Changes in family structure

The percentage of households in West Berkshire with only adult children living with their parents decreased from 9.6% to 9.4% in the decade to 2011.

The percentage that had at least one dependent child remained close to 31%, while the percentage of households in West Berkshire without children increased from 59% to 60%.

The proportion of households with adult children living with their parents fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 8.8% in 2001 to 9.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.4% to 9.6%.

The proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents was higher than across the South East

Percentage of households where a parent lived with their adult children across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

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